The Bottom Line: The Climawarm+ jacket gives golfers more warmth and movability than they’ve likely experienced from a jacket of its weight and thickness.

Overview

It’s common sense. When it’s cold outside, people stay warm by wearing more clothing. But as anyone who is or knows a serious golfer might expect, it’s another common-sense rule to which many golfers don’t subscribe.

In this case, however, golfers have a good reason for not practicing sound judgement. To many golfers, bundling up for a cold-weather round is like a surgeon performing an operation while wearing a pair of boxing gloves. That’s the same loss of touch many golfers feel they lose when they try to play in several thick layers of clothing.

Adidas’ new Climawarm+ jacket should help golfers solve some of their cold-weather problems. It is constructed from an extremely thin, lightweight fabric that’s surprisingly warm. The fabric, made from hollow-fiber yarn, was inspired by the fur of a polar bear and naturally retains body heat. Check out the promotional video from Adidas to see what PGA Tour players Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Martin Laird are saying about the jacket.

[youtube id=”lQcW77ZoRhA” width=”620″ height=”360″]

The Climawarm+ technology isn’t unique to golf. It will be used in several other Adidas products designed for different sports. But it might be most important for golfers, who unlike other athletes spend most of their time standing or walking: not exactly movements that get the blood flowing.

According to Davide Matucci, director of global product marketing for Adidas, the biggest difference between the Climawarm+ jacket and Adidas’ previous Climawarm products is the new jacket’s extremely light weight and the full range of motion it provides.

“In golf, it’s all about freedom of movement,” Matucci said. “So the problem we wanted to solve was how to keep golfers warm without having to bulk them up with thick, heavy layers that can restrict [their] swing.”

The Climawarm+ full-zip jacket weighs a mere 12 ounces, and is made from 95 percent polyester and 5 percent elastane. It is available in three colors: Vivid Blue/Black/White, Black/Lead/Solar Blue and Light Onix/Light Onix/Hi-Res Red in sizes small to 2XL and costs $80.

It is also available in a half-zip pullover ($75) and a quarter-vip vest ($70). Women have the choice of a Climawarm+ full-zip vest ($70) and a quarter-zip pullover ($75).

Performance

Above: The black-and-gray Climawarm+ jacket was brightened up with blue accents on the Adidas logo and on the seams on the chest, shoulders and arms.

The first thing golfers will notice when they pick up the Climawarm+ jacket is how light it is. It’s much lighter than similar jackets golfers are used to wearing, which might trick them into thinking that it can’t possibly be warm. But it is very warm, even when worn over nothing more than a standard golf shirt.

The first time I wore the jacket was an experience much like the first time I wore a cold-weather compression shirt. My hands and face were bitten by Detroit’s November cold, but my body and arms felt toasty despite the mid 40-degree temperature.

No matter how warm an article of clothing is, however, is has to be functional to be worn by serious golfers. Three-time PGA Tour winner Martin Laird said that he likes his outerwear to be fitted, but that it can’t be restrictive for him to wear it on the course.

The Climawarm+ jacket, when properly sized, will do neither of those things, laying loosely over a golfer’s shoulders, arms, back and chest. But the midsection of the jacket fits a little slimmer, keeping the “sag” of the stomach area to a minimum. That’s especially important to Laird, who uses a 45-inch counterbalanced putter that tends to get caught in baggier-fitting outerwear.

“I lot of times I don’t like wear zip-up jackets because they sag, but this one fits really nicely,” Laird said.

One of the few problem with the jacket is the sleeve cuffs, which fit loosely in my XL sample. If anything, I prefer my cuffs to fit slightly tighter than normal in a golf jacket. That allows me to pull the cuffs up a few inches, anchoring them to the thicker parts of my forearms. But since the cuffs of the Climawarm+ Jacket are loose, they take a little more maintenance. They will stay in place for most shots, but golfers will likely be pulling them up a little before every shot just to make sure they’re not going to slide down their arms in mid swing.

The two pockets of the jacket are a nice touch, as many jackets that are the thickness of the Climawarm+ don’t have them. They’re large and sturdy enough to hold hand warmers, and have the same cozy cotton-like feel as the inside of the jacket.

Looks and Feel

Above: The Climawarm+ Jacket in its most understated colors, gray and red.

The Climawarm+ jacket is offered in three colors, all of which have an Adidas logo on the front left chest, as well as three large Adidas stripes on the back of the collar and high-contrast seams on the jacket’s arms, shoulders and back. Those not-so-subtle designs reinforce the athletic look of the golf jacket, which is enough that gym-goers likely wouldn’t get a second look if they were seen working out in it. That gives the jacket versatility in that sense, but when I think of versatile golf clothing I think of apparel that can be worn for a night out with friends, not at the gym.

The Climawarm+ is an extremely comfortable jacket, however, which will likely have golfers reaching for it more than they should. The fabric on the inside is peached (think fuzzed), giving it a plushness that golfers might expect from a less technical fabric.

I also found that the textured finish on the outside of the jacket handles light rain reasonably well, which was unexpected. The Climawarm+ is by no means a rain jacket, but water seems to bead off the fabric rather than absorb directly into it. I certainly wouldn’t want to get stuck in a rain storm while wearing the Climawarm+ as my outer later, but if it was tucked under a true rain jacket on a cold day, the Climawarm+ jacket would be an ideal middle layer, radiating heat inward as the rain jacket moved water away.

The Takeaway

Traditionalists likely won’t go for for the Climawarm+ jacket, but those who can handle its athletic styling will enjoy its combination of warmth and light weight, which will be useful in a variety of different weather conditions.

In Detroit, for example, the jacket would work great for the cold, wet weather of the early spring, either as an outer layer or a layer underneath rain gear. On a warm fall day, it might be paired with only a golf shirt underneath, while on a cold fall day I might add a cold-weather compression shirt underneath and a wind breaker over it to help cut the chill of the wind and seal in even more heat.

There are a lot of similar items on the market, but few are as versatile or inexpensive ($80) as the Climawarm+. That makes it one of those apparel items that golfers who are short on outerwear should seriously consider adding to their closets.

Zak is the Editor-in-Chief of GolfWRX.com. He's been a part of the company since 2011, when he was hired to lead GolfWRX's Editorial Department. Zak developed GolfWRX's Featured Writer Program, which supports aspiring writers and golf industry professionals.
He played college golf at the University of Richmond (Go Spiders!) and still likes to compete in tournaments. You can follow Zak on Twitter @ZakKoz, where he's happy to discuss his game and all the cool stuff that's part of his job.

6 Comments

6 Comments

Got it not loving it. Anything thing over a slight breeze cuts right through it. And on a non golf note it it so stretchy that anything in the pockets (like an iPhone) cause it to really droop. Prefer the UA Infared line.

Adidas introduces new Go-To Adapt Jacket

Adidas’ new Go-To Adapt Jacket is designed to be worn when the weather can not make up its mind. The Go-To Adapt Jacket has a polyester top portion of the chest, shoulders and back which allows for better range of motion and body heat release. The bottom portion is made of fleece to help keep your core warm during the cooler morning tee times. Available for both men and women, this jacket has telescoping sleeves, allowing for the sleeves to be rolled up without stretching them out. The sleeves also feature an articulated elbow region, allowing for full range of motion.

Christine Cowan, global director of apparel, Adidas Golf says, “Golfers are used to having apparel that works for the two temperature extremes. But there are days when you need to be able to transition, for example, from a cooler morning to a warmer afternoon. That’s why we created the Go-To Adapt Jacket, to be the ideal mid-weight option that provides optimal stretch where you need it as well as enhanced breathability. It’s that reliable and perfect piece that can take you through your day, on course and off.”

Designed with the golf swing in mind, some of the key features include

Quarter Zip (men’s)

Full Zip (women’s)

Internal headphone pockets

Front-zip pockets

Telescope cuff (women’s features thumbholes)

Articulated elbows for freedom of movement

Water-resistant fabric combined with fleece-lined shell for all weather protection

Callaway Golf releases 2018 Fall Weather Series

While the cooler weather is fast approaching us, there is no need to put away your clubs and leave the golf course so soon this year! With a stylish, performance-driven collection for both men and women, Callaway Golf is here to help extend your season and keep you comfortable out there regardless of the weather this fall and winter. The 2018 Fall Weather Series is diverse, with multiple products that were designed for you the golfer to be at peak performance at a time of the year when all of your buddies will not.

Greg Hemphill, Senior Director Global soft Goods at Callaway Golf said, “We are excited to bring the 2018 Fall Series to market…from mid-layers to puffer vests, to waterproof jackets and trousers, the Weather Series marries the latest in fiber technology and construction with a sophisticated, aesthetically pleasing design to provide golfers with the new standard in performance outerwear.”

Take a look below at a few selected products that are in the 2018 Fall Weather Series.

Dual Action 1/4 Zip Pull Over & Vest

Callaway chooses an insulated thermal fabric for its heathered fleece sweaters and vests. A Water-repellent exterior and UV Block UPF 50 combine to keep you dry and protected.

Full-Zip Puffer Jacket & Vest

Waterproof Seam-Sealed Jacket

With this breathable 3-layer membrane full-zip waterproof jacket, Callaway again includes SWING-TECH mechanical stretch fabric. seam-sealed construction with splash proof zippers are designed to keep you dry.

Waterproof Performance Pant

Callaway’s new rain pant is designed for both breathability and protection from the wet stuff. adjustable snaps, drawstrings and toggle hems on the pant cuff meet a 3-layer waterproof membrane in this performance pant.

Bubba Watson’s Winning Outfit: 2018 Travelers Championship

Bubba Watson took down his third career Travelers Championship on Sunday after firing a final-round 63. Like his golf swing, and his golf clubs, Bubba has his own style. He wears a visor, colored gloves, a watch while he plays, and always has his polo buttoned to the top button.

See exactly what Bubba was wearing on Sunday at the 2018 Travelers Championship below!